| The purpose of this research was to determine if there were differences between the "3 + 1" and "2 + 2" medical technology educational approaches. The differences studied pertained to graduate performance on the ASCP medical technologist certification examination and student learning enviroment expressed in the dimensions of student-reported classroom and studying activities during the professional medical technology educational phases.;Performance on the medical technologist certification examination was analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance. The nine subscores of the certification examination were redefined as five dependent variables: Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Microbiology, and Professional Skills. This analysis was followed by univariate F tests and discriminant analysis procedures. Data obtained from the learning environment questionnaire were analyzed using various descriptive and inferential statistical techniques (e.g., ANOVA, X('2)).;Based on the data collected and analyzed in this study, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) Performance on the August 1981 ASCP medical technologist certification examination was not a function of the educational program type--whether "3 + 1" or "2 + 2" (Multivariate F = 0.51; p < .76). (2) Learning environment in the dimensions of student-reported classroom activities, specifically encouragement of discussion by the instructor through questions, students thinking about ideas presented, and ample time for repeating laboratory experiments that did not work, was a function of the educational program type. Students in the "3 + 1" programs perceived these specific classroom activities to be more prevalent than the students in the "2 + 2" programs. (3) Student-reported studying activities were not a function of the educational program type.;Sixteen medical technology programs participated in the study, eight "3 + 1" educational programs and eight "2 + 2" educational programs. Copies of the investigator-developed learning environment questionnaire were mailed to each school for administration to medical technology students. Completed questionnaires along with a list of scores obtained on the August 1981 ASCP Board of Registry's medical technologist certification examination by the school's graduates were returned to the investigator. |
